morris



J. 0. MORRIS.

ToBAcco LENNF sTEmNNNG, sTNMGNTENlNG, AND BOOKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1921.

Patented June 14, 1921.

I. 0. MORRIS.

TOBACCO LEAF STEMMING, STRAICHTENING, AND BOOKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAIL 30| I9 2I| 1,381,489. Patented June 14,1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET: 2.

I N VEN TOR. Bgfom O Morris.

.-I TTORNEYS.

1. 0. MORRIS. TOBACCO LEIAF STEMMING, STRAIGHTENING, AND BOOKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 30, 1921. 1,381,489. Patented June 14, 1921.

3 SHEETS-snm a.

IN VEN TOR.

Jon /Vorrs BY m Qa BBQ, ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN O. MORRIS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

TOBACCO-LEAF STEMMING, STRAIGHTENING, AND BOOKING MACHINE.

To all 'whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, JOHN. O. MORRIS, a citizen of 'the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Imrovements in vTobacco-Leaf Stemming, Itraightening, and Booking Machines, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to'a tobacco stemming machine in combination with mechanism for straightening out the tobacco leaves from'the hunched condition in which they are left Vimmediately after stripping lthe Y "showing, in detail, the stripping and leaf after being stemmed.

leaf Vfrom the stem.`

. The invention furthermore provides a machine in which the length of stem taken from the leaf may be regulated, thus permitting the operator ofthe machine to regulate the length of the stem stripped from the leaf dependent on the kind. of tobacco operated upon and the use to whichit istol be put been the practice to stem tobacco leaves by carrying the said leaves on a movable belt to a position wherein the butt `ends of the leaves are engaged by stripping and stem gripping means for the purpose of stripping the leaf from the In the past it has "stem as the-latter is'pulled through the stripping means.; Y Y

-In the presentfinvention each individual leaf is straightened out and placed in `proper position on an operatorsplatform and is v fed by the operator directly to the stripping 35V Vl Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the complete machine. Y

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view straightening means. j Y

Fig. 3 is 'a top plan view of the machine. Fig. 4 is aside elevation of the machine fromvthe left Ahand side. Fig. V5 is a fragmentary perspective of modified form of Vstripping means.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of a modified form of stemgripping means.V

YFig".l 7 is' an end elevation of the stem gripping means shown'in Fig. 6.

Specification of Letters Patent.

`Application led March 30, 1921. Serial No. 456,841.

Fig. 8 is a side elevationl of the tampico member.

Fig. 9 is asectional view-on the line 9 9 I a base 1 upon which the parallel upright frame members 2 2 are mounted. The upright frame members 2-2 carry cross pieces 3 3', respectively, supporting bearings 4 which journal the shaft 5A of a stripping drum 6, the construction of which will be hereinafter set forth. The frame members 2%2 are provided with lateral eXtensions7--7l which receive and support an operators feeding platform having the vertical gage 9 which is adjustable laterally of the said platform 8 by means of thestuds 9 working in slots in the brackets 10.V The upper or working surface of the platform 8 is substantially tangent to the surface' of the stripping drum The strippingV drum is composed of two end members 11 and 12, the latter of which is of wheel-like Vform and has a peripheral channel formed by the removable side `flanges 10,8 between which is a circular series of brush-like'members 14 secured in place by transverse wires 110 or any other suitable means. These brush-like members may be of tampico fibers or other equally adaptable material. n

Upright extensions 15 and 16 of the frame member 2 carry bearings 21 and 22 in which are journaled stub shafts 23 and 24 having keyed thereto Vthe chain sprockets 25 and '26, respectively, over which a stripping chain 17 travels. The chain 17 compr1ses a flexible base formed of two parallel side strips connected by cross pins 18 which serve to form the sprocket engaging means and also fasten the stripping knives 19 between the said strips. Each knife 19 is provided with edge notches 20 for receiving the butt end of a tobacco leaf stem and holding it against the brush-like members 111 during the stemming operation. The lower run of the chain 17 is substantially tangent to the periphery of the box-like members la. Y In order to take the slack out of the chain 17 and keep this lower run of the said chain in proper Vrelation Vto the said brush-like members 14,

the cross bar 27, which connects the upright extensions 15 and 16, is provided with a bracket28 journaling the double ended'nut 29 having oppositely threaded ends. The

upper end thereof receives the threaded end 30 of a forked bracket 31 which carries the idler 32 over which the upper run of the chain 17 travels, while the lower end of the nut 29 receives an oppositely threaded end 33 from the end 30 and which carries a bearing shoe 34 of channel form, having rolls 3.5, beneath which the lower run of the chain 17 travels; therefore, by turning the nut 29 the slack in the chain 17 may be adjusted and any desired degree of pressure of the lower run of the chain on the brush-like members 14 may be obtained. Projecting from the extension 16 and overlying the drum 6 adjacent the lower run of the chain 17 is a leaf holding wire 36 beneath which the butt ends of the leaves of tobacco travel.

The two end members 11 and 12 of the stripping drum 6 are joined by slet-like members 13 which form the body of the drum. YExtending around the drum 6 and spaced from the brush-like members 14 at a distance approximately equal to the averagc length of tobacco lea-f is a countersunk annular peripheral channel member 13 having the side lianges 15 which journal rollers 16 in closely adjacent relation. Running around the drum 6, on the said rollers 16, is a belt 37 which also travels over an idler pulley 38 carried on a shaft 39 at the side of the machine, said shaftbeing supported in bearings 40. The shaft 39 carries a pulley 41 which is ldriven by a belt 42 from a motor 43. At the opposite end said shaft 39 carries a gear 44 meshing with an identical 45 carried on a stub shaft 46 and which, in turn, meshes with another identical gear 47 on a stub shaft 48; the last mentioned gear, namely 48, meshes with the gear 49 on a shaft 24 thereby driving the sprocket 26 Y and chain 17.

The shaft 39 carries a sprocket 39 which is connected to a sprocket 5 on the shaft 5 by a chain 6 to drive the drum 6. The relation between the driving` means for the belt 37 and the drum 6 is such that the belt 37 is driven faster than the drum 6, the reason for which will hereinafter appear.

On the outside of the machine and carried by the spaced brackets 50-50 and 51-51 are the means for gripping and drawing the stem; such means consists of pulleys 52 and 53, the spindles of which carry grooved pulleys 54 and 56, respectively, over which is trained the crossed belt 56, as shown, whereby driving the pulley 52 also drives the `pulley 53. The remaining end of the shaft of pulley 52 is extended and carries a worm 57 which meshes with and is driven from a. worm wheel 58 on the shaft 23. At the adjacent ends of brackets 50-50 and 51-51 are journaled two small rolls 59 and 60, respectively, and which are so located that the opening therebetween is wedge-shaped, as shown, with the smaller end of the opening pointing away from the operators platform 8. A stemming belt 61 is trained around pulley 52 and roll 59 and a. similar belt 61 is trained around pulley '53 and roll 60, both belts moving to pull the stem of a leaf away from the chain 17 as the stem enters thewedge opening by reason of the driving connections hereinbefore referred to.

A bracket 62 extends from the upright 15 of the frame member 2 and carries a forked end 63 which mounts an idler 64 directly over the belt 37 at a point immediately in back of where the stemming of each individual leaf occurs. Over this idler runs a leaf straightening belt 64, driven from al pulley 66 on a shaft 67, which is just above the shaft 39; shaft 39 carries a gear 68 which meshes with a gear 69 on shaft 67 so that the leaf straightening belt 65 runs at Vthe same speed as the belt 37 but both run faster than the drum 6.

Instead of using the tampico members 14 on the drum 6, the periphery of the said drum may comprise a series of radially disposed stripping knives, each of which is indicated by the numeral 70 and isprovided with its working edge identically notched with respect to the coperating knives of the liexible series of the belt 17. This construction, for some purposes, does equally aswell as the Vcombination of knives and tampico members.

F or stemming, the stem gripping means previously described may be replaced. if desired, with a pair of rollers 71 and 72 having V.spindles 73 and 74 journaled in the bearings 75 and 76 of the brackets 77, these rollers being disposed with their axes substantially parallel and the surfaces of the rolls slightly spaced apart. One of the rollers may be of metal as for instance roller 72 while the other, 71, may have a rubber gripping covering 77. The entrance side of the rollers is formed into a wedge shaped opening 78 by tapering the respective rollers as indicated at 79 and 80. On the spindle 73 is a gear 81 meshing with a gear 82 on the spindle 74 so that driving one roller drives both; the spindle 74 carries a sprocket 83 which is driven from the machine in any suitable manner.

In the use of either type of stemming means hereinbefore described, a knife 84 may be fiXedly in approximately the position indicated in Fig. 4 and will serve to cut the stem of each leaf at any predetermined length depending on the speed of the stemming means and the rate at which the leaf travels through the machine.

In order to provide for booking the leaves, the stemmed product leaving the machine is delivered onto a belt A which is the medium of the gear 89. The belt A mais@ also runsoveranfidler 90 `carried on an uprightbrafket' 91. Parallel with the bracket 91is: another upright bracket 92 and between these `brackets is mounted a shaft 93 which supports a tray 94 held ina substantially horizontal position by `a spring 95. This tray is tiltable through the medium of a cam 96 on the end of the shaft' of the Y. roller 90 Vandfvvhich cam engages av lug 97 .on the said tray 94.' Beneath"` the tray .94 and running at right angles tothe belt A is ay belt B Y which runs over pulleys'98,"one of which ypulleys Vis ajdriving pulley for the pulley -99 of a bookin 'belt 100 'which isY superposed on thebelt` and is carried on pulleys 99 land 101, said drive being accomplished through the'` medium of af'chain 1021er anyother suitable means.- yThe belt B maybe driven from the idler 90 bymeans of a pulley A103 carrying a belt 104 running over a pulley 105. n

In Vmaking up the tampioo members a spoked 4or. solid disk may be used, the spoked type being indicated in Fig. 8 and consisting vofa-.bodyi106 having a rim 107 provided with removable side flanges 108 held in .place onf the rim 107 by screws 109. The tampico is out to proper length and looped and held in place by pins 110 so :that the ends of the tampi'co lengths project substantially radially outward 'as shown.

The pins 110, if desired, mayberiveted over i to "hold them1 inV place, or Votherwise semi- VVpermanently located.- Y .f The operators platform 8 vis attached to themembers l7 through the medium of bolts 111 passing through .slots 112 in members V113 carried by the said operators platform 8 andthus .renderingthe same ad'ustable as .to vertical height; also,.the p atform is slotted as indicated at 114 for adjustment to .and from the ,operating mechanism of the machine..

The operationof the machine is as .fol-Y lows:

'An operator sitting on the right hand i y side of the machine at the platform 8 places the leaves as shown in Fig. 1 with the butt ends ofthe stems-against the gage member V9. vPower being applied tothe machineby energizing the motoi` 43, the stripping drum 6 rotates in .the direction indicated by the Y arrow in Fig. 1. This motor alsodrives the various Vother mechanisms .of the ina-V chine and Vthe voperator then moves each individual leafvfromY the platform and into position yto beV gripped'between the brushlike members 14 andthe kiiives19 of chain `17 .t Each leaf with its stem resting onthe tampico Y members 14 travels betweenV the Vwire 361and said'tampico membersand is engaged by one of the notches of one of the stripping Vknives 19V at Vwhich lpoint the rapidlymovin belts 61-61 'grip the end of the stem an draw it from the leaf. 'This i pended claims.

leaves thel Yleaf in, afbunched Iup Acondition .withl its butt end held beneath the wire 36 and: its apexV end,'which is fairly straight, lying directly pon the belt 37. lThe tendency of thewire 36 Ito hold the butt end of the leaf while the drum moves causes the apex end of the leaf to engage between the leaf straightening belts 37 and 65 which are moving faster thanthe drum 6,and -by reason of the holding of the one end ofthe leaf byV the :wire 36, and the consequent sluing around' ofthe otherend by the difference in speed-between the drum `6 and the two belts 37 and 65, the leaf is'stretched out or straigghtenedV and is finally dropped ydown ontothebelt A.- 'f

The leaf is delivered by the belt A tothe trayV 94 V'which-'is'tiltedfb'y the operation of the cam 96, thereby delivering the leaf in aV transverse-position-onto.the belt B. The 'leaf thenpasses'between thebelt `B and the belt v100 and thereby booked `and finally einer es from between the two belts into any suiiJ le' sort ofv al collectorfsuohas indicated yat' While, in the foregoing, Ihave described a specific embodiment of the stemming -machine, it is nevertheless to be'understood that, in practice, I may resort to any modifications falling VVithinVA the scope of the api-Ciaim: l 1. In a' tobacco stemming machine, co-

operating stripping means, one of `which comprises a drum constituting a lleaf carrier successively positioning individual leaves stripping position,'and stem gripping means engaging and drawing each VIleaf stem as. the Vleaves arrive at thestripping position.A i

2. In Aa `tobacco stemming machine, co-

operatin'gf'stripping means, one of which comprises a Vrotating'drum Vconstituting a leaf carrier successively positioning individual leaves in stripping position, and stem gripping means engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at the stripping position. Y

3. In a tobacco stemming machine, co-

operating stripping means including continu- 1i 5 ously moving elements, one of which moves lineally andthe other rotatively, `for successively moving individual leaves to stripping 1 position, and stem gripping means engaging tinuously moving elements, one of which moves lineally and the other Arotatively for successively moving individual leaves to 'Y stripping position, and stem gripping means engaging and drawing each leaf stein as the leaves arrive at stripping positiom 5. In a tobacco stemming machine, co-

lping position.

operating stripping means, one of which comprises4 a flexible lineally moving member and the other a rotating drum constituing a leaf carrier successively positioning individual leaves in stripping position, and stem gripping means engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at the stripping ostion.

6. n a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means, one of which comprises a lineally movin flexible member and the other a rotating rum constituting av leaf carrier successively positioning individual leaves in stripping position, and stem gripping means engaging and drawing -each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at the stripping position. 7. In a. tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means, one of which comprisesl a lineally moving flexible knife member and the other a rotating drum constituting a leaf carrier successively positioning individual leaves in stripping position, and stem gripping means engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at the stripping position.

8.. In a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means lincluding' continuously moving elemen-ts, one of which moves lineally and the other of which'comprises a rotatively moving .carding member, the latter member also acting to successivelymove individual leaves to stripping position, and stem gripping means engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at strip- 9. In a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means includingcontinuously moving elements, one of which moves lineally and comprises a flexible-series `fof knives, and the other of which comprises a rotatively moving carding member, the' latter member also acting to successively move individual leaves to stripping position, and stem gripping means engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at stripping position.

10. In a tobacco stemming machine, co-

operating stripping means including continuously moving elements, one of which moves lineally and comprises a flexible series of knives', and the other of which comprises a rotating drum having a peripheral carding area, the said drum constituting a leaf carrier for successively moving individual leaves to stripping position, and stem gripping means engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at stripping position.

11. In a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means including continuously moving elements, one of whichV moves lineally while the other rotates, the latter also constituting la leaf carrier .for successively movingindividual leaves to stripping position, and stem gripping means comprising adjacent belts engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at the stripping position. Y

12. In a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means, one of which comprises a lineally moving flexible member, and the other a rotating drumk constituting a leaf carrier, successively positioning individual leaves in stripping position, and stem gripping means comprising adjacent belts engaging anddrawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at the stripping position.`

13. In a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means, one of which comprises a lineally moving viexible knife member, and the other a rotating drum constituting a leaf carrier successively positioning individual leaves in stripping position, and stem gripping means comprising adjacent belts engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at the stripping position.

14. In a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means including continuously moving elements, one of which moves lineally and`comprises a flexible series of knives, and the other of which comprises a rotatively movin carding member, the latter member also acting :to successively move individual leaves yto stripping position, and stem gripping means comprising adjacent belts engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at the stripping position.

15. In a tobacco stemming machine, stripping means, stem gripping means in combimeans acting to straighten the bunched stemmed leaves.

` 16. In a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means, one of which constitutes a leaf carrier, stem gripping means engaging and drawing each loose stem as the leaves arrive at the stripping position, and leaf straightening means acting upon the stemmed leaves.

17. In a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means,l one of which comprises a rotating drum constituting a leaf ,carrier successively positioning individual leaves in stripping position, stem gripping means engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves'arrive at the stripping position,- and leaf straightening means acting upon the stemmed leaves. f

18. In a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means including continuously moving elements, one of which moves lineally and the other rotatively, for successively moving individual leaves to stripping position.y stem gripping means engaging and drawing'each leaf stem as the leaves arriveat stripping'position, and leaf straightening means acting upon the stemmed leaves. Y

Aco

19. Ina tobacco stemming machine, co-

' operating stripping means including continu ously moving elements, one of which moves lineally and the other rotatively for successively moving individual leaves to 'stripping Vcomprises a Vflexible lineally moving member andthe other a'rotating drum constituting a leaf carrier successively positioning individual leaves in strippinglposition, stem gripping means engaging and drawing each leaf stem' as the leaves arrive at the stripping position, and leaf straightening means acting upon the stemmed leaves. Y

21. In a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating strippingY means,-one of which comprises a lineally moving iexible member and the other a rotating drum constituting a leaf carrier successively positioning VVindividual leaves in stripping position, stem gripping means engaging and drawing each leaf stem as vthe leaves arrive at the stripping position, and leaf straightening means acting upon the stemmed leaves. Y

22. In aV tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means, one of which comprises a lineally moving flexible knife member and the other a rotating drum constituting a leaf carrier sucessively positioning individual leavesin stripping position, stem gripping means engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at the stripping position, and leaf straightening means actingv upon thestemmed leaves.

23'. In a Itobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means including continuously moving elements, one of .which moves lineally and the other ofwhich comprises a rotatively moving carding` member, the latter member also acting to successively move individualy leaves to stripping position, stem gripping means engaging and4 drawing each leafA stem as the leaves arrive at stripping position, and lleaf straightening means acting upon the stemmed leaves.

24. In a tobacco stemming machine, coperating stripping means including .continuously moving elements, one of which moves lineally and comprises a eXible series of knives,` and the other of which comprises a rotativelymoving brushmember, the latterl member also acting to successively,l move individual leaves to stripping position, stem gripping means engagingvand drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at stripping position, and leaf straightening i-means acting upon the stemmed leaves.

25. In a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means including con- .tiniiou'slyY moving elements, .one of which moves lineally and comprises a flexible series of knives, the other of which comprises a rotating drum having a peripheral brush area, the said-drum constituting a leaf carrier for successively moving individual leaves to stripping position, stem gripping means engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at stripping position, and leaf straightening means acting upon the stemmed leaves.-

26. In a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means Vincluding continuously moving elements, one of which moves lineally while the other rotates, the latter also constituting a leaf carrier for successively moving individual leaves to stripping position, stem gripping means comprising adjacent belts engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at the stripping position, and leaf straightening means acting upon the stemmed leaves.V Y

27. In a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means, one of which comprises a lineally moving flexible member, andthe other a rotating drum constituting a leaf carrier, successively positioning Vindividual leaves in stripping position, stem gripping means comprising adjacent belts engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at the stripping position, and leaf straightening means acting upon the stemmed leaves.

28. In a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means, one of which comprises a lineally moving flexible knife member, and the other a rotating drum constituting a leaf carrier successively positioning individual'leaves in stripping position, stem gripping means comprising adjacent belts engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at the stripping position, and leaf straightening means acting upon the stemmed leaves.

29. In a tobacco stemming machine, co-

operating stripping means including continuously moving elements, one of which moves lineally and comprises a flexible series of knives, and theother of which comprises a rotatively moving carding member, the

latter member also acting to successively move individual leaves to stripping position, stem gripping means comprising adjacent belts-engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at the stripping position, and leaf 'straightening means actping means, stem gripping means in combination therewith, and leaf straightening means comprising mechanism releasably holding the butt end of the leaf and including a pair of belts engaging the apex end of the leaf and drawing it away from the butt end.

32. In a tobacco stemming machine, stripping means, stein gripping means in combination therewith, and leaf straightening means comprising mechanism releasably holding the butt end of the leaf and including a pair of members engaging the apex end of the leaf and drawing it away from the butt end.

33. In a tobacco stemming machine, stripping means, stem gripping means in coinbination therewith, and leaf straightening means comprising mechanism releasably holding the butt end of the leaf and including a pair of contacting belts engaging the apex end of the leaf therebetween, said belts moving to draw the apex end of the leaf away from the butt end.

34. In a tobacco stemming machine, stripping means, stem gripping means in combination therewith, leaf straightening means comprising mechanism releasably holding the butt end of the leaf and including a pair of belts having engaging surfaces receiving the apex end of the leaf therebetween and drawing it away from the butt end, and means retarding movement of the butt end of the leaf.

35. In a tobacco stemming machine, stripping means, stem gripping means in combination therewith, leaf straightening means acting to straighten the bunched stemmed leaves, and leaf booking means.

36. In a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means, one of which constitutes a leaf carrier, stem gripping means engaging and drawing each loose stem as the leaves arrive at the stripping position, leaf straightening means acting upon the stemmed leaves, and leaf booking means.

37. In a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means, one of which comprises a rotating drum constituting a leaf carrier successively positioning individual leaves in stripping position, stem gripping means engaging and Vdrawing each leaf stein as the leaves arrive at the stripping position, leaf straightening means acting upon the stemmed leaves, and leaf booking means 38. In a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means including continuously moving elements, one of which moves lineally and the other rotatively, for

Vsuccessively moving individual leaves to stripping position, stem gripping means engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at stripping position, leaf straightening means acting upon the stemmed leaves, and leaf booking means.

39. In a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means including continuously moving elements, one of which moves lineally and the other rotatively for successively moving individual leaves to stripping position, stem gripping means engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at stripping position, leaf straightening means acting upon the stemmed leaves, and leaf booking means.

40. In a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means, one of which comprises a flexible lineally moving member and the other a rotating drum constituting a leaf carrier successively positioning individual leaves in stripping position, stem gripping means engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at the strip- Vping position, leaf straightening means acting upon the stemmed leaves, and leaf booking means.

41. In a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means, one of which comprises a lineally moving fiexible member and the other a rotating drum constituting a leaf carrier successively positioning individual leaves in stripping position, stem gripping means engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at the stripping position, leaf straightening means acting upon the stemmed leaves, and learPY booking means.

42. In a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means, one of which comprises a lineally moving flexible knife member and the other a rotating drum constituting a leaf carrier successively positioning individual leaves in stripping position, stem gripping means engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at the stripping position, leaf straightening means acting upon the stemmed leaves, and leaf booking means.

43. In a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means including continuously moving elements, one of which moves lineally and the other of which comprises a rotatively moving brush member, the latter member also acting to successively Vmove individual leaves to stripping position, stem gripping means engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at stripping position, leaf straightening means acting upon the stemmed leaves, and leaf booking means.

44. In a tobacco stemming machine,co operating stripping means including continuously moving elements, one of which moves lineally and comprises a flexible series of knives, and the other of which comprises a rotatively moving brush member, 4the latterl member also acting to successively move individual leaves to stripping position, stem gripping means engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at stripping position, leaf straightening means acting upon the stemmed leaves, and leaf booking means. Y

45. In a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means including continuously moving elements, one of which moves lineally and comprises a flexible series of knives, the other of which comprises a rotating drum having a peripheral brush area, the said drum constituting a leaf carrier for successively moving individual leaves to stripping position, stem gripping means engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at stripping position, leaf straightening means acting upon the stemmed leaves, and leaf booking means.

46. In a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means including continuously moving elements, one of which moves lineally while the other rotates, the latter also constituting a leaf carrier for successively moving individual leaves to stripping position, stem gripping means comprising adjacent belts engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at the stripping position, leaf straightening means acting upon the stemmed leaves and leaf booking means.

47. In a tobacco stemming machine, cooperating stripping means, one of which comprises a lineally moving flexible member, and the other a rotating drum constituting a leaf carrier, successively positioning individual leaves in stripping position, stem gripping means comprising adjacent belts engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at the stripping position, leaf straightening means acting upon the stemmed leaves, and leaf booking means.

48. In a tobaccoy stemming machine, cooperating stripping means, one of which comprises a lineally moving flexible knife member, and the other a rotating drum constituting a leaf carrier successively positioning individual leaves in stripping position, stem gripping means comprising adjacent belts engaging and drawing each leaf stem as the leaves arrive at the stripping position, leaf straightening means acting upon the Y stemmed leaves, and leaf booking means.

V49. In a tobacco stemming machine, co-

i operating stripping means including continuously moving elements, one of which moves lineally and comprises a liexible series of the leaves arrive at the stripping position,

leaf straightening means acting upon the stemmed leaves, and leaf booking means.

50. In a tobacco stemming machine, stripping means, stem gripping means in combination therewith, and leaf straightening means comprising mechanism releasably holding the butt end of the leaf and means engaging the apex end of the leaf and drawing it away from the butt end, and leaf bookin means.

' 51. n a tobacco stemming machine, stripping means, stem gripping means in combination therewith, leaf straightening means comprising mechanism releasably holding the butt end of the leaf and including a pair of belts engaging the apex end of the leaf and drawing it away from the butt end, and leaf booking means.

52. In a tobacco stemming machine, stripping means, stem gripping means in combination therewith, leaf straightening means comprising mechanism releasably holding the butt end of the leaf and including a pair of members engaging the apex end of the leaf and drawing it away from the butt end, and leaf booking means.

53. In a tobacco stemming machine, stripping means, stem gripping means in combination therewith, and leaf straightening means comprising mechanism releasably holding the butt end of the leaf and including a pair of contacting belts engaging the apex end of the leaf therebetween, said belts moving to draw the apex end of the leaf away from the butt end, and leaf booking means.

54. In a tobacco stemming machine, stripping means, stem gripping means in combination therewith, leaf straightening means comprising mechanism releasably holding the butt end of the leaf and including a pair of belts having engaging surfaces receiving the apex end of the leaf therebetween and drawing it away from the butt end, means retarding movement of the butt end of the leaf, and leaf booking means.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

JOHN O. MORRIS. 

